Emmi Lohrentz

“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.”

-Kay Redfield Jamison

Early childhood education is my passion and I am excited to be teaching at the Child Development Lab, where learning is guided by each child’s curiosity to discover the world around them. The Child Development Lab is an incredible space that provides ample opportunities for children to notice, wonder, explore, and discover. I love teaching in this environment because all of our teachers create developmentally appropriate learning opportunities, and we get to share our passion and dedication with college students who are preparing to work in the field and beyond. I feel so lucky to be a part of SOHE, where children, college students, and teachers are able to engage in the inquiry-based process every day, it is truly a great place to be!

Child Development Lab

I received my undergraduate degree in Unified Early Childhood Studies from University of Minnesota Duluth, leading in certification in Regular Education: Birth through 8 years old, and Special Education: Birth through 8 years old. I have been teaching at the Child Development Lab since 2016 and prior to that I taught Early Childhood Special Education and 4 Year Old Kindergarten.

My areas of interest are in teaching children with special needs, creating inclusive classrooms, and creating trauma informed practices in the early education setting. I have had trainings in the Pyramid Model for social emotional competence in infants and young children, as well as a fellowship through the Department of Psychiatry’s Infant, Early Childhood, and Family Mental Health Capstone Certificate Program.